Viljandi folk music festival sets “Three-four!” as 2027 theme

ERR reports that the 2027 Viljandi folk music festival will focus on “Three-four!”, a theme celebrating musical collaboration. The festival has also opened calls for proposals for its main, workshop and singer-songwriter programmes.

The theme of the 34th festival refers to the musicians’ signal for starting a song. Within the Viljandi folk music festival community, it has also become a kind of secret password.

“When a musician on stage or a devoted fan in front of it shouts ‘Three-four!’, the audience traditionally responds in unison: ‘Good band!’” festival head Ando Kiviberg said.

Through the open call, the festival aims to fill a large part of next year’s programme. The programme will focus on hopeful beginnings and the role of inspiring examples in preserving folk music.

For the main programme, organisers are seeking demos, programme ideas and production concepts from Estonian musicians, including ideas for the festival opening and procession. For the first time, proposals for the workshop programme can also be submitted through an open call.

Singer-songwriters may submit ideas for concerts and programmes for the singer-songwriter programme dedicated to the memory of Jaak Johanson.

The festival’s programme team will assess the submissions based on their connection to the theme, their contribution to folk music and the originality of the programmes.

The 34th Viljandi folk music festival will take place from July 22 to 25, 2027. Ideas for the festival programme can be submitted on the festival’s website until September 11.